Convertible article of furniture



CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. E. NOCK, JR

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE 0F FURNITURE Nov. 26, 1935.

Filed May 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MT. v

Patented Nov. 26, l 1935 UiTED sTATEs PATENT .ri

Elbridge Estill Nook, Jr., Norfolk Mattress Com Norfolk, Va., assignor to pany, Inc., Norfolk, Va.

Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 20,080

2 claims.

This invention relates to a convertible article of furniture and has for its object to provide, in

a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of the class referred to capable of being converted from a couch into a davenport or a twin bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner` as hereinafter set forth, a foldable and extendible structure having the elements thereof so formed and arranged relatively to each other to enable it to be selectivelyA used as a couch, a davenport or a twin bed when desired.

vFurther objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a foldable and extendible article. of furniture for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,

durable, compact when in non-extended position,

conveniently extended and folded, pleasing in appearance and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention consists of such parts as are hereinafter more specically described and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications may be resorted to which fall within the claimed.

In the drawings: l Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view ofthe structure when arranged in the form of a couch,`

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the structure when arranged in thevform of a. davenport,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe structurewhen arranged in the form of a twin bed, v.Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in sectional plan of the extendible and foldable element Iof the structure,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on linel5-5, Figure 6,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation` of.`

the extendible and foldable element when functioning as the back of a davenport, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the extendible and foldable element when functioning as the back of a davenport and with j the cover of the foldable section of said element omitted.

The structure includes a non-extendible element 8 and an extendible and foldable-element 9 normally housed by the element 8. Thelatter is of couch-like form and when element 9 is scope of the invention as` housed therein the structure provides a couch. 'I'he element 9, when., completely extended from element 8, provides a bed bottom for one half of a twin bed. The element 9 is formed of `a lower supporting section and an upper section normally 5 mounted in superimposed relation with respect to and capable of being extended from and folded relative to the lower section. The upper section is pivotally connected to and capable of being shifted upwardly from the lower section against 10 the rear of, and in connection with section 8 forming a davenport when the lower section is housed in element 8 and the upper section is in upstanding position.

The element 8 is o'f rectangular contour and 15 includes a pair of spaced parallel oppositely disposed front corner posts or legs I0 of angle form, `only one of the posts II) is shown, and a pair of spaced parallel oppositelyV disposed rear corner posts Il of angle form, only one of the 20 posts II is shown. The posts I0 and II align with each other. Appost I0 is connected to a post-'II by a brace bar I2 of angle form. The holdfa'st means foranchoring bar I2 to a post I0 and a post Il is indicated at I3. Secured to 25 the front of the posts I0' is a front frame member I 4'; preferably of wood. Secured to the sides of the posts l0 and Il are side frame members I5 of wood, only one of which is shown. The members I4, l5 have their tops arranged below the 30 upper ends of the posts I0, I I. Extending from one of the posts Il to the other is a combined brace and supporting bar I6'of angle form. The bar abuts the inner faces of, is iiush with the upper ends of and has its ends suitably secured 35 to posts I I. The outer face of bar Iii has secured thereto a wooden strip I'I. Seated upon the members I4, I5, bar I6, strip I1 and against the upper end of the front, side and inner faces of the posts I0, I I is the lower portion of a mattress I8. Concealing the latter, as well as extending throughout the outer faces of and secured to members It, I5 and strip Il is a cover I9. The lower ends of members It, I5 areush with the lower ends of the corner posts. The flanges 20, 2l of the posts y I0, II respectively have anchored thereto casters 22. The flanges 2l of posts Il constitute stops for a purpose to be 1 referred to. A removable mattress or pad 23 is arranged on mattress I8.

'I'he upper and lower sections of element 9 are designated 24, 25 respectively. 'I'he section 24 is of greater width and length than section 25, but seats on the latter when not extended. The section 24 consists of a rectangular frame 26 having its body of angle shape cross section to 55 provide the front, rear and sides of the frame with horizontal, front, rear and side flanges 21 and vertical front, rear and side flanges 28. The flanges 21 extend inwardly from the upper ends of the anges 28. Attached to the front, rear and side horizontal iianges 21 is a reticulated resilient support 29. Each of the side verticalv flanges 28 of the frame 26, forwardly of the rear end of the latter has an opening 30 in which is mounted a pivot 3| formed with heads 321, 33 at its ends. Each pivot 3| extends inwardly from a vertical side ange 28 and carries a washer 34 opposing the inner face of such flange.. Loosely mounted on the pivots 3|, between heads 33 and washersl 34,are the tapered end portions 35 of hinge members 36. The frame 26 is enclosed by a cover 31. 'I'he members 36 extend through the cover 31, as at 38. c

` The section consists of -a rectangular frame 39 formed of a pair of side bars 40, 4| and a rear and a front bar 42, 43 respectively. The bars are of angle contour to provide them with horizontal and vertical legs. Depending from and secured to the front and rear bar of frame 26, in proximity to each end of the latter, is an upright 44 of angle form having its lower end provided with an inwardly extending ange 45 which carries a foot piece 46 of cushioning material. 'I'he rear ends of the outer faces of the vertical legs of the side bars oppose the lower portion of the inner faces of and have upstanding hinge members 36 iixedly secured thereto by rivets 41. The'horizontal legs of the front and rear bars are seated at their ends upon theends of the horizontal legs of the side bars. The vertical leg of the front bar 43, at each end thereof', is formed with a' cutout 48. The vertical leg of the foward side bar, in proximity to each end-thereof, is formed with a slot 49. Extendingthrough each cutout 46 is the elongated leg 50 of an L-shaped coupling member 5I. The leg 5U"is slidably connected to a sidebar by headed pins 52 which are slidably mounted in slot 51. The coupling members 5| coact with the flanges 2| of the posts I to prevent vthe separation of the element 9 from element 8 when element 9is extended to the position shown in Figure 3.

4The hinge members 36 permit the section 24 to be movedto the position shown in Figure 2 to provideV the back for the davenport when section 25 is housed inl element 8. The pivots 3| "andvmembers 346 constitute supporting means forthe rear portion of section 24 when thesections 24,k 25 are superimposed.

The mattress I8 is used as one half and the mattress 23 is used asthe other half of 'the twin tbed when the structure is converted into a twin bed such as shown in Figure 3., The mattresses |8 and 23 are arranged in superimposed relation when the structure is `employedas a couch such as shown in Figure 1 or as a devenport such as shown in Figure 2.

What I claim is:

1'. In' a convertible article of furniture, a selectable bed bottom and davenport back forming element consisting of a slidable lower frame having depending supports, an upper frame normally superimposed upon and of greater width and length than said other frame, a resilient structure arranged within and secured to said upper frame, each of said frames having itsbody of angle-shaped cross-section to form vertical and horizontal parts, .a vertical part of the upper frame seating upon a horizontal part of the lower frame, said frames, when in superimposed relation, constituting a bed bottom, an upstanding hinge member xed at its lower end to one Vend of the outer face of each side of the lower frame, means extending inwardly from each side of the upper frame forwardly of the rear end of the latter for pivotally connecting said members to and within the upper frame whereby the latter may be extended upwardly from the rear end of and folded to seat upon the lower frame, said upper frame, whenl extended upwardly, constituting the back of a davenport.

2. In a convertible article of furniture, a selectable bed bottom and a davenport back forming element consisting of a slidable lower frame having depending supports, an upper frame normally superimposed upon and of greater width and length than said other frame, a. resilient structure arranged within and secured tofsaid upper frame, each of said frames having its body of angle-shaped cross-section to form vertical and horizontal parts, a vertical part of the upper frame seating upon a horizontal part of the lower frame, said frames, when in superimposed Jrelation, constituting a bed bottom, an upstanding'hinge member fixed at its lower end to one end of the outer-face of each side of the llower frame, means extending inwardly from veach side of the upper frame forwardly of the rear end of the latter for pivotall'y connecting said members to and within the. upper frame whereby the latter may be extended upwardly from the rear end of vand folded to seat upon the lower frame, said upper frame, when ex-l tended upwardly, constituting the back of a davenport, and a cover encompassing said upper frame, said members being extended through the bottom of said cover.

ErBRrDGE E; NOCK, Ji, 

